QB Fink Sets Three School Records but Sacred Heart loses to Monmouth, 42-20

FAIRFIELD, CT (October 17, 2009) - Sacred Heart quarterback Dale Fink (Swansea, IL) completed 36-of-54 passes for 373 yards, all new school records, but the Monmouth Hawks had 513 yards of total offense en route to a 42-20 win in Northeast Conference action Saturday afternoon. Fink threw a pair of touchdown passes in a loss that dropped the Pioneers to 1-5 overall and 1-3 in NEC play.

The Hawks (3-3, 2-1 NEC) piled up over 500 yards of offense on just 58 total plays, averaging 8.8 yards per play in the win. Monmouth got big offense days from senior running back David Sinisi and sophomore quarterback Kyle Frazier. Sinisi rumbled his way to 135 yards and two scores on 20 carries and added a third touchdown on a 50-yard screen pass from Frazier. The sophomore signal caller threw for 322 yards and four scores while completing 18-of-24 passes.

The Pioneers (1-5, 1-3 NEC) opened the game posting a three-and-out defensively, setting up Fink for his first drive on SHU's own 43-yard line. Fink quickly moved the Pioneers down to the MU 24-yard line on three-straight completions but the drive stalled out on the Hawk eight and SHU settled for a 25-yard field goal from freshman Jason Plescow (Miami, FL).

Frazier and the Hawks answered right back on the second play of the ensuing drive as the QB found Ron Lauch behind the defense for a 58-yard scoring strike. Sinisi made it 14-3 Monmouth on the Hawks next possession, plunging in from a yard out to cap an 11-play, 79 yard drive. Frazier and Sinisi hooked-up on a 50-yard screen pass for six up the right sideline midway through the second-quarter for a 21-3 lead.

The SHU offense was able to drive deep into Hawk territory on the ensuing drive but was again forced to settle for a Plescow short field goal after stalling out on the Monmouth five-yard line. Fink hit Steve Tedesco (Mission Viejo, CA) on a 25-yard strike to set SHU up first and goal at the five but a false start penalty helped stall the drive. The Pioneers got the ball back with 1:45 left before the half and Fink once again took the offense down the field setting up first and goal at the eight yard line with 17 seconds left. Rushed to throw on second and goal, Fink hit Garry Coles (Southington, CT) in the right flat but the sophomore tailback was dropped in bounds at the five-yard line and the clock ran out before the Pioneers could get another play off.

The Monmouth defense set the tone for the second half with a three-and-out stand on the opening drive and the Hawk offense took over putting the game away. Frazier made it 28-6 on their first drive hitting tight end Mike Roeder from 23-yards out. Sinisi burst off left tackle in the "Wildcat" formation for a 48-yard score on their second drive for a 35-6 lead. Frazier put the game out of reach three plays into the fourth quarter hitting Ryan Folsom on a seven-yard scoring strike to lead 42-6 with 13:50 left to play.

Fink tacked on a pair of Pioneer touchdowns down the stretch, hitting Coles from seven-yards out in the back of the end zone and Tedesco on a 25-yard strike to the back left corner, his 11th catch of the day. Fink's 36 completions breaks the school record of 30 he tied twice this year (vs. Marist & Holy Cross) and shared with Tyler Arciaga (Stony Brook 10/21/06). His 54 pass attempts break his own record of 53 he set earlier this season at Holy Cross. His 373 passing yard breaks the mark held by Arciaga, who threw for 323 against Central Connecticut State (11/5/05).

Tedesco finished the day with 11 catches for a season high 168 yards, his second game this season hauling in 11 passes (11 - 100 yds vs. Holy Cross). As a team, SHU had a season-high 26 first downs and 454 yards of offense.

The Pioneers are back on the road next weekend as the travel to Wagner College to take on the Seahawks in an NEC match-up. Kick-off is slated for 1:30 pm.